The Jemmy Pl home was ripped apart in the blast, which emergency services believe was caused by an exploding gas bottle.

Bricks and broken glass littered the lawn and driveway where the resident had been standing when the explosion occurred about 4.20pm.

The man, the sole occupant of the home, had only just returned to Tamworth yesterday afternoon after four months overseas.

Visibly distraught, he watched on as firefighters brought the blaze under control.

He was treated for shock by ambulance paramedics but was otherwise uninjured.

Neighbour Cindy Akers, who lives three houses up the road, was inside when she heard “a big bang”.

“I ran out and saw everyone in the street and there was glass everywhere and then I saw the flames,” she said.

“It was so loud that at first I thought it was in our garage.

“It was such a big explosion, it sounded like a bomb.”

Resident Mark Ingram arrived home just after the initial blast and described a smaller explosion shortly after.

“Me and another neighbour grabbed garden hoses and started wetting down the house next door,” he said.

Other neighbours from blocks away said they heard the bang and felt their houses shake, with smoke from the fire seen from more than a kilometre away.

Acting Inspector Graeme Elms of Tamworth police said there was a small fire in the house shortly after 4pm yesterday and the occupant was outside ringing emergency services when the explosion occurred.

It was unknown yesterday what caused the initial fire.

Acting Inspector Elms said forensic investigators would comb through the remains of the house this morning.